Our young assets

Our young Parsi/Irani boys and girls are our community assets. Lest they become liabilities here are some suggestions:

Young earning Zoroastrians who have completed their studies with financial assistance from our Zoroastrian trusts should try to contribute to the same institutions or any other, so that subsequent younger generations benefit. If they have borrowed books from Zoroastrian organizations it would benefit others if they give generously to the same institution. It is pay back time for our yuppies. When they go on picnics and attend parties, spare a thought for the poor Parsis in villages and shell out something for them. After completing their examination studies, they could give their service to the lonely senior citizens. It is really appalling to know that our community citizens living in the colonies die unattended and their neighbors wake up after the stench. Tithing, which shows willingness to work with the law of prosperity and return to the creator, at least a part of which is given to you, will bring you more than you thought possible.

Complacency is not a virtue, in fact perseverance is. After having graduated, young Zoroastrians should continue studies. Disparity between our community young and other community members is striking. Not a single Irani or Parsi is attempting to earn two crores on the Kaun Banega Crorepati program on TV nor do we have an Irani or Parsi cricketer in the national team.

One really admires our young people for their religious fervor. Our Ervad Aspi Nalladaroo has succeeded in arousing religious awareness among our Parsi youth who after a day’s hard work attend the humbandagi at the Banaji Atash Behram.

The young should cultivate the art of appreciation and should never take for granted the sacrifices made by parents. If you are appreciative of your parents’ and grandparents’ efforts, your children will respectfully follow in your footsteps.

Young men complain that Parsi ladies tell them, "Oh you are a CA and you don’t own a car or office of your own or an air-conditioned flat. I am not going to live in a four-room apartment with your parents.” For all we know she may be living in one room. When the years slowly creep on she settles for the second best. Young frustrated men then marry outside our community. Young men too should not be too choosy. We Parsis have the wrong notion of keeping up with the Joneses.

The young should spend wisely and choose friends carefully. Everyone has the right to spend, but pomp and show at weddings and navjotes drain our wealth. Money could be put to good use. Our Sir Ness Wadia and many Zoroastrian industrialists would have always thought of constructing buildings for those deferring marriage for want of decent accommodation. Young men who say "Ghér apavo pachhi hamé paranvani vat karishoo (Give us a house first, then we’ll talk about marriage)” eventually die as bachelors.

If you are not attracting the good that you desire in your life, e.g. success, happiness, prosperity, learn to express love. Become a radiating center of love and you will find that love. When your heart is filled with love, you will not be critical or irritable, but you will be divinely irresistible, whereas idle conversation can deplete your good, dissipate it and scare it away. Whatever evil we see in others and talk about we are inviting in our lives in some form of negation.

Ignite the spark. Think it is pay-back time. Help young Zoroastrians to secure good jobs if you are well-placed in a great organization. Do not lead mediocre lives.

Everyone has a right to enjoy life, but the thing one should remember is while enjoying do not hurt someone’s feelings. Always bear in mind one law of the universe — what goes around, comes around. Youth is not eternal. Remember the words of John A. V. S. "Be what you were created to be; a glorious shining flower in God’s incredible garden of life.”

TEHMI C. ELAVIA